We can only take phone reservations from those people who do not have access to the Internet. With our online reservation system, you can make your reservation any time of the day or night with no busy phone lines. It will help us do our jobs more efficiently, if you can take advantage of this online booking system.

Reuben Tarte Memorial Day Park is located on the north end of the island (near Roche Harbor). Take Roche Harbor Road, onto Rouleau Road - Go right on Limestone Point - Take a right on San Juan Drive. The park will be on the left side of the road. Park at the top and walk down to park (GPS N48° 36.743, W123° 5.914).

Eagle Cove County Park is located in the southern part of the island just before American Camp. Head south on Cattle Point Road - Turn right on Eagle Cove drive (located at the entrance to American Camp) - Park is on the left side of the road, a ¼ - ½ mile. (GPS N48° 27.809, W123° 2.027)

Turn Point County Park is located just off Turn Point road near the town of Friday Harbor (adjacent to Pinedrona Lane). (GPS N48° 31.718, W122° 58.827).

Please remember that Orcas are wild animals and they have travel and feeding patterns that we humans are still studying. Based on scientific observations there is a 'greater likelihood' that you will see Orcinus Orca here as the tide is coming in. The incoming tide pushes fish against the island shelf (which drops 400 - 600 feet a 1/4 mile offshore).

This creates a large buffet table for them and they work their way up the shelf while feeding. This is also why we tend to see them at approximately the same distance from shore day-in, day-out. Usually they'll be around from four hours before high tide up until high tide. Occasionally they will travel back south with the ebb, but tend to be moving fast and spread over a greater distance.

We are frequently visited by 3 resident pods of orcas (J pod = 29 whales, K = 19, L = 36). Sometimes the pods will intermingle, giving a rare opportunity to observe a 'super pod'. Occasionally, there may be distant sightings of mammal-eating transient orcas, though usually further from shore. Our resident orcas generally dine on salmon and other fish species.

We also encourage people to visit Lime Kiln State Park (2.5 miles south) as Orcas frequent the area between Cattle Point and Lime Kiln a bit more than here. There are also good interpretive panels available there.

While in Friday Harbor, make time to visit the Whale Museum. Admission rates are very reasonable and they offer a wonderful exhibit area, art gallery and gift store. You can also check on recent marine mammal sightings. Whale Musuem's Website

San Juan County Parks does not currently charge for entry to any of our parks and we are not participants in the state’s Discover Pass program (this pass is not required for access to County parks, other fees may pertain to specific uses). For information about this pass, required for state-managed recreation lands, please visit the Discover Pass website. Discovery Pass WA State